baxter



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. J. BAXTER.

GATE. No. 433,434. Patented Aug. 5, 18901 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' F. J. BAXTER.

GATE.

(No Model.) 3'Sheets--Sheet3.

, F. J. BAXTER.

' GATE.

No. 433,434, fie Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

W12 WESSES WM %K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX J. BAXTER, OF BRAXTON COURT-HOUSE, YVEST VIRGINIA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,434., dated August5, 1890. Application filed March 23, 1889- Serial No. 304,448- (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX J. BAXTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Braxton Court-House, in the county of Braxton and State ofest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gatesof which the following is a speeification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automaticgates; and it has for its object to provide a gate of this characterhaving a simple and effective construction and operation, possessingstrength and durability, and comprising but a comparatively small numberof parts, and consequently to reduce the cost of manufacture.

I11 the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, one ofthe gates being open. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical sectional View onthe line m m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewon the line My y,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top or plan View, the

gates, uprights, and flooring being removed. Fig. 5 is a detailelevation of a modification. Fig. 6 is a bottom or inverted plan view ofthe stop-block.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters ofreference.

The gates and their supports and the base or box platform and its beamsare preferably constructed of wood; but it is obviously apparent thatother materials may be substituted therefor as may be desired.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a rectangular base platform orbox of suitable size, which may be buried below or remain fixed abovethe surface of the ground. This platform consists of two side planks A,united to two end planks A all of which are arranged on edge, and alsohas two long planks A, arranged to lie flat and be secured to the bottomedges of the planks A and A A top covering or flooring A is fitted onthe top edges of the planks A and A and within said flooring areprovided corner aperturesa and side apertures a, the latterbein gintended for the lower ends of the pivot-bars of the gates. Extendingtransversely across the platform is a beam or plank B, whose ends passthrough central mortises in the lower part of short side planks O 0',arranged edgewise. These planksO O are arranged inside of the sideplanks of the frame and parallel therewith, and are provided withhorizontallydisposed pulleys 0, arranged on each side of the centerabout midway from the ends. The ends of said planks C C are secured tocross-planks 0 arranged edgewise and bolted or otherwise secured to thesides of the platform A. In the said planks 0 adjacent to each of theends of planks O and O, openings I or slots 0 are out, and adjacent toeach of said openings 0, extending from the inside planks (3 to the endsof the platform ata downward incline, are pairs of braces 0 forminginclined planes, for a purpose hereinafter described. At the side ofsaid openings 0 are provided vertically-disposed pulleys 0 Over theplank B a beam D is mounted, whose ends project through mortises formedin the central lower part of the planksO and O, as will be clearly seenin Fig. 3. This beam D has two springs S secured thereto, which projectdownward and bear on the plank B. The length of said beam is less thanthe width of the platform, to allow the same to have free verticalmovement. The ends of the beam are formed with recesses 61, which engagewith vertical guides or rods d, secured against the side planks A of theplatform. The beam D is provided between the planks C and O with rollersto, which are mounted in a horizontal position and project above thesurface of said beam.

Over the beam D, resting on rollers w and parallel with the sides of theplatform, are two longitudinally-disposed bars E, which are shorter thanthe inside space of the said platform, and on the ends thereof above theinclined braces 0 hereinbefore referred to, are fastened blocks or keyse, rising above the top or flooring A and projecting through theapertures 0: therein. As the gates are open ed or closed the bars Eshift backward and forward. The ends of the said bars E pass through theopenings or slots 0 in the planks G which are sufficiently broad anddeep enough to allow free longitudinal and vertical play therein oftheends of said bars.

Posts F extend upward from the center of the sides of the platform A andare joined together by a capbeam F, extending from one to the other. Onthe inner side of the said cap is a centrally-disposed locking plate orblock'F provided at diametrically-opposite corners with recesses f,adapted to regudgeons f extending into and having bearing in cap-beam F.On the inner upright bars h gudgeons of similar character, but of lesslength than the gudgeons f are also mounted and adapted to engageapertures f in the locking-plate F and serve .in the capacity of boltsto secure the gates.

For operating each gate I have provided a cord or chain Z, which issecured to theoutside of the foot of the outer upright or pivot bar ofits respective gate, from which point the ends of the cordare brought tothe front, crossed, passed along the outer. side of the planks G orO, asthe case may be, around the horizontal pulleys c, and brought backagain, passing over the pulleys c and secured to the adjacent block orkeys 6 on the respective barE. The gates being hung in reverse relationto each other, the operation of the cord mechanism is consequentlyreversed and the gates adapted to open in opposite directions.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art to which it appertains. Advancing toward thegate in either diree; tion, the operator depresses the key 2 at theright-hand side. This operation first lowers the beam D and consequentlythe gate, releasing the gudgeon h, and then moves the respective bar Etoward the operator, causing the cord to draw upon the gate from theopposite side and throw it open in that direction. To close the openedgate, the key at the farther end of the bar E previously acted upon isdepressed, drawing upon the cord in a contrary direction, andconsequently imparting a reverse movement to the gate. Previous to theclosing of the gate, however, the beam D is depressed by the operationof the bar E, permitting the gudgeon 7b to pass under the locking-plateF and when-the pressure upon the key is released the gudgeon h entersthe aperture therefor in the locking-plate.

For retaining a gate against closing until the proper key is depressed Iemploy the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. It consists of twouprights S S, provided at the diametrically-opposite corners of theplatform, toward which the gates are adapted to turn, connected with theends of the cap-beam F by horizontally-disposed planks or bars S Sprovided at their farther ends, upon the under sides, with apertures s3, adapted to -receivethe gudgeonsh'. The operation in connection withthis eontrivance will be obvious. The gate during the swinging movementbeing at a lower plane than normally, it passes under the adjacent plankS and when pressure is removed from the-key e just operated upon thegudgeon h enters the aperture .9 and holds the gate open until properlyclosed.

If it is desired that the gates shall be low and without a cap overhead,the beam D is provided with under hinged sections d the springs S beinginterposed between the beam and hinged sections, as shown in Fig. 5. The

beam D is provided with upwardly-projecting pins that are adapted topassup into the inner upright bar of each of the gates to lock them, in lieuof the gudgeons h.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isnected withand adapted to be turned'by the latter, substantially as deseribedn 2.In a gate of the character herein set forth, the combination of theplatform, the frame-planks, the central sprmg-actuated beam, the barswith keys, inclined ways for the latter, the cords, and the gates,substantially as described.

3. In a gate of the character herein set forth, the combination of theplatform, the.

thereof, the cross-bars having end keys mounted on said rollers,inclined ways for said keys, and the pulleys and cords, substan tiallyas described.

5. In a gate of the character herein set forth, the combination of thebase-platform, the gates proper, the central spring-actuated beam havingrecesses in its ends, the guide IIO pins or rods with which saidrecesses engage,

the cross-bars having projecting keys, in clined ways upon which saidkeys slide, and the cords and pulleys, substantially asdescribed. V

6. The combination, with the gates provided with looking pins orgudgeons atthe upper ends thereof and adapted to engage apertures in alocking-plate, of a verticallyyielding bar forming the lower bearingsfor the gates, and means for depressing said bar, whereby the gates arelowered and the pins or gudgeons released from the locking-plate,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. J. BAXTER:

Witnesses:

P. B. ADAMS, E. D. CAMDEN.

IIS

